ASSALAAMUALAYKUM Q1-IN AHSANUL FATAWA PART 3 IT STATES THAT IN SAJDAH IT IS SUNNAH FOR THE HEELS OF THE FEET TO BE KEPT APART AND IN SHAMI ,ILAAUS SUNNAN ETC IT STATES THAT IN SAJDAH IT IS SUNNAH FOR THE HEELS OF THE FEET TO TOUCH WHICH OF THE ABOVE IS CORRECT AND SUNNAH?

26th Rabi-ul-Awwal 1427 - 24th April 2006

Firstly, the Hadith does not mention keeping the heels together. The words of the Hadith are 'Raassan-al-Aqibain' i.e joining of the ankles.

Standard Hanafi Fatawa books such as Shami etc, do mention this as a Sunnah basing it on the Hadith of Hazrat Aisha (R.A) recorded in Sahih Ibn Hibban as mentioned in I'ilaa-us-Sunan. (Page 39, Vol. 3)

Many of our Akaabireen-Ulamaa-e-Deoband such as Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri (R.A) (see Al-Arf-Us-Shazi) have written this as a Sunnah. Likewise, Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb Gangohi (R.A) also mentions this in Fatawaa Mahmoodiyyah. (Page 198, Vol. 14)

However, Hazrat Mufti Rashid Ahmad Saheb (R.A) has questioned the validity of this sunnah by saying that the Hadith of Hadhrat Baraa (R.A) (I'ilaa-us-Sunan p. 39) apparently contradicts the hadith of Hazrat Aisha (R.A) as the verb 'Tafaajja' is mentioned which denotes that both feet were kept apart in Sajdah.

Thereafter Hazrat Mufti Rashid Ahmad saheb (R.A) answers this apparent contradiction in two ways:- (1) Tatbeeq - i.e. Both hadith can be reconciled if the word 'Rass' is taken in the meaning of 'Taqreeb' i.e. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) kept both feet close together in Sajdah but not necessarily touching each other.

Hazrat Mufti Saheb (R.A) also mentions two reasons why it is more appropriate to take the meaning of 'Rass' in Hazrat Aisha (R.A)'s hadith as 'Taqreeb':-

(i) The same hadith also mentions 'Istiqbaal-ul-Asaabi-al-Qiblah' (Facing the toes towards the Qiblah) and (ii) 'Nasb-ul-Qadamain' - keeping both feet up in sajdah.

It is not possible to fulfil both these sunnats completely when the ankles are kept together.

(2) Tarjeeh - Priority has to be given to the Hadith of Hazrat Baraa (R.A) as it confirms to the sunnah of 'Tajaafi' in Ruku and Sajood. I.e. Just as it is sunnah for men to separate the arms from the sides in Ruku and Sajdah, therefore the logical sequence would be to keep the feet also apart in Sujood.

Having tried joining the ankles in Sajdah a number of times, personally I am of the opinion that the the 'Tatbeeq' offered by Hazrat Mufti Rashid Ahmad saheb (R.A) is more appropriate as well as practical. Joining of the ankles also require the knees to be displaced from their natural position of comfort.

Wallahu A'alam Bis Sawaab. (Mufti) Abdullah Patel.

N.B. My respected Ustaadh Sheikh-ul-Hadith Hazrat Moulana Fazlur-Rahmaan Saheb (D.B) (D.Uloom Azaadville, S. Africa) is also of the opinion that joining the ankles is sunnah and during one of his visits to the U.K he mentioned to me that he has written a reply to Mufti Rashid Ahmad Saheb's arguments. However, I have not seen Hazrat Moulana's 'Tahqeeq'

I wish to add the brief Fatwa of Hadhrat Mufti Radhaul Haq (hafizahullah) on the issue, as it can be found on www.duz.co.za :

Quote:

Question:How should the feet be kept in Sajdah?

Answer: Some scholars hold the view that the ankles and feet should be kept together in Sajdah. However, the preferred view of the majority of scholars and jurists is that the Sunnah method of Sajdah is as follows:

Both feet should be kept in an upright position in with the toes firmly on the ground facing the Qiblah. At the same time, the feet and ankles should be kept a reasonable distance apart, similar to the way that they are kept in the standing posture of Salaah.

For a detailed explanation of the relevant proofs and details regarding this viewpoint, refer to our compilation of Fatāwa, entitled: Fatāwa Darul Uloom Zakariyya;

THE POSITION OF THE FEET IN SAJDAH

Question

Is it sunnah to keep the heels together in sujud or to separate them?

I found for both instance a Hadith:

Keeping them together:

‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I noticed that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was not there and he had been with me in my bed. I found him prostrating, with his heels together and his toes turned towards the qiblah, and I heard him saying, “I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and in You from You; I praise you and I cannot praise You enough.”

(Related by Al-Bayhaqy, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra, Book on Salah, Chapter on about putting the two heels together in Sujud, no. 2552; Al-Hakim, Al-Mustadrak, vol. 1, p. 352, no. 832; and Ibn Hibban, Sahih, vol. 5, p. 260, Book on Salah, Chapter on mentioning the Hadith that refutes those who claim that this Hadith was only narrated by `Ubaydullah ibn `Umar, no. 1933; al-Tahhaawi in Bayaan Mushkil al-Athaar (1/104); Ibn al-Mundhir in al-Awsat (no. 1401); Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh (1/328)

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